"Are you a voter in Miami Dade County? Were you aware that as a matter of policy, voters are prohibited from using restrooms at polling places? Hard to believe, especially in light of the extraordinary lines, but rather than making the restrooms accessible, the County has decided to make all restrooms off limits to voters.

Don't take my word for it. That's the official policy, as set forth by a County official:

According to John Mendez, of the County's Elections Department:

"Please note State statute does not mandate that the rest rooms in the polling location be ADA compliant. As we discussed at the meeting in order to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not treated unfairly, the use of rest rooms by the Voters is not allowed on election day." (Email to Marc Dubin, Esq.)

Mr. Mendez neglects to note that whether state statute mandates ADA compliance or not, the ADA itself mandates that restrooms at polling places be accessible to and usable by voters with disabilities.

Lines to vote were extraordinarily long in Miami Dade County. A policy of prohibiting the use of restrooms, especially use by persons with disabilities, disenfranchises voters, and we urge Mayor Gimenez to change this policy and allow voters to use restrooms at polling places. We also urge the Mayor to take the steps necessary to ensure that restrooms at polling places be accessible to and usable by voters with disabilities."

Please contact Marc Dubin, Esq., Director of Advocacy at the Center for Independent Living of South Florida if you want to get involved in advocacy about this issue. He can be contacted at mdubin@pobox.com or at 1-305-896-3000.